Anti-diabetic activity of stigmasterol from soybean oil by targeting the GLUT4 glucose transporter

Molecular effects of Vitamin-D and PUFAs metabolism in skeletal muscle combating Type-II diabetes mellitus

Multiple post-receptor intracellular alterations such as impaired glucose transfer, glucose phosphorylation, decreased glucose oxidation, and glycogen production contribute to insulin resistance (IR) in skeletal muscle, manifested by diminished insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. Type-2 diabetes mellites (T2DM) has caused by IR, which is also seen in obese patients and those with metabolic syndrome. The Vitamin-D receptor (VDR) and poly unsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) roles in skeletal muscle growth, shapes, and function for combating type-2 diabetes have been clarified throughout this research. VDR and PUFAs appears to show a variety of effects on skeletal muscle, in addition it shows a promising role on bone and mineral homeostasis. Individuals having T2DM are reported to suffer from severe muscular weakness and alterations in shape of the muscle. Several studies have investigated the effect on VDR on muscular strength and mass, which leads to Vitamin-D deficiency (VDD) in individuals, in which most commonly seen in elderly. VDR has been shown to affect skeletal cellular proliferation, intracellular calcium handling, as well as genomic activity in a variety of different ways such as muscle metabolism, insulin sensitivity, which is the major characteristic pathogenesis for IR in combating T2DM. The identified VDR gene polymorphisms are ApaI, TaqI, FokI, and BsmI that are associated with T2DM. This review collates informations on the mechanisms by which VDR activation takes place in skeletal muscles. Despite the significant breakthroughs made in recent decades, various studies show that IR affects VDR and PUFAs metabolism in skeletal muscle. Therefore, this review collates the data to show the role of VDR and PUFAs in the skeletal muscles to combat T2DM.

Traditional Chinese medicine formulae: A complementary method for the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent female endocrine condition that significantly affects women of all age groups and is characterized by metabolic dysfunction. The efficacy of existing pharmaceutical interventions for the treatment of PCOS remains inadequate. With a rich history and cultural significance spanning thousands of years, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is extensively employed for treating a variety of ailments and can serve as a supplementary therapy for managing PCOS. Multiple clinical observations and laboratory tests have unequivocally demonstrated the substantial effectiveness and safety of TCM formulae in treating PCOS, and further investigations are currently in progress.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To summarize the TCM formulae commonly employed in the clinical management of PCOS, examine their therapeutic benefits, investigate their mechanism of action, active constituents, and establish the correlation between efficacy, mechanism of action, and active constituents.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a comprehensive search on PubMed, Web of Science, and China national knowledge infrastructure (CNKI) using the following keywords: "Polycystic Ovary Syndrome", "Traditional Chinese Medicine Decoctions", "Traditional Chinese Medicine formulae", "Traditional Chinese Medicine", "Clinical Observation", "Mechanism", "Treatment", "Pharmacology", and various combinations of these terms. From January 1, 2006 until October 7, 2023, (inclusive).

RESULTS

This paper summarized the clinical effectiveness, mechanism of action, and active components of 8 TCM formulae for the treatment of PCOS. Our research indicates that TCM formulae can potentially treat PCOS by enhancing the levels of hyperandrogenism and other endocrine hormones, decreasing insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia, and controlling chronic low-grade inflammation, among other modes of action. In addition, we found an association between epigenetics and TCM formulae for the treatment of PCOS.

CONCLUSION

TCM formulae have specific advantages in the treatment of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). They achieve therapeutic benefits by targeting several pathways and connections, attracting considerable interest and playing a vital role in the treatment of PCOS. TCM formulae can be used as an adjunctive therapy for the treatment of PCOS.

Untargeted metabolomics and phenotype data indicate the therapeutic and prophylactic potential of Lysimachia candida Lindl. towards high-fat high-fructose-induced metabolic syndrome in rats

The present study evaluated the therapeutic potential of the medicinal plant Lysimachia candida Lindl. against metabolic syndrome in male SD rats fed with a high-fat high-fructose (HFHF) diet. Methanolic extract of Lysimachia candida Lindl. (250 mg kg-1 body weight p.o.) was administrated to the HFHF-fed rats daily for 20 weeks. Blood samples were collected, and blood glucose levels and relevant biochemical parameters were analysed and used for the assessment of metabolic disease phenotypes. In this study, Lysimachia candida decreased HFHF diet-induced phenotypes of metabolic syndrome, i.e., obesity, blood glucose level, hepatic triglycerides, free fatty acids, and insulin resistance. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabolomics was done to study the dynamics of metabolic changes in the serum during disease progression in the presence and absence of the treatment. Furthermore, multivariate data analysis approaches have been employed to identify metabolites responsible for disease progression. Lysimachia candida Lindl. plant extract restored the metabolites that are involved in the biosynthesis and degradation of amino acids, fatty acid metabolism and vitamin metabolism. Interestingly, the results depicted that the treatment with the plant extract restored the levels of acetylated amino acids and their derivatives, which are involved in the regulation of beta cell function, glucose homeostasis, insulin secretion, and metabolic syndrome phenotypes. Furthermore, we observed restoration in the levels of indole derivatives and N-acetylgalactosamine with the treatment, which indicates a cross-talk between the gut microbiome and the metabolic syndrome. Therefore, the present study revealed the potential mechanism of Lysimachia candida Lindl. extract to prevent metabolic syndrome in rats.

The combination of Ephedrae herba and coixol from Coicis semen attenuate adiposity via glucocorticoid receptor regulation

The enhanced therapeutic effects and mechanisms of certain herbal combination in various herbal prescriptions are mostly unclear. A combination of two herbs, namely Ephedrae herba (EH) and Coicis semen (CS), has been commonly prescribed for obesity. In our previous work, the combination of EH and CS was studied using network pharmacological approach to predict its pharmacological targets and in vitro experiments to evaluate its efficacy on obesity. Although we demonstrated enhanced anti-adiposity effects of the combination on matured adipocytes, the molecular mechanisms and contributing compounds underlying the effects of EH-CS combination on adiposity or adipogenesis were not fully elucidated. The current study adopted integrated bioinformatics analysis to precisely validate potential targets of EH-CS by screening differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of morbid obesity patients from NCBI gene expression omnibus (GEO). Based on the functional cluster analysis of down-regulated DEGs, the anti-adipogenesis mechanism of EH-CS combination was speculated with KEGG enrichment analysis. Furthermore, we investigated the combinational effects of EH and coixol, or stigmasterol, the two compounds in CS which were expected to have main beneficial effects in metabolic diseases. Moreover, distinct effect of the combination on transcriptional activity of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) was investigated using electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). The EH-CS combination was predicted to modulate down-regulated genes which are involved in KEGG pathways crucial to metabolic disease in morbidly obese individuals. The combination of EH with CS compounds significantly increased the phosphorylation of acetyl-coA carboxylase (ACC), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and protein kinase B (AKT) in 3T3-L1 cells and decreased intracellular lipid accumulation. The two CS compounds significantly increased the anti-adipogenesis/lipogenesis effects of EH by inhibiting the gene expression levels. Finally, the combination of EH and coixol inhibited dexamethasone-induced GR translocation to the nucleus and transcriptional binding activity in adipocytes. The combination of EH and CS could be considered a therapeutic strategy for treating metabolic diseases, including obesity.

Phytochemical Content and Antidiabetic Properties of Most Commonly Used Antidiabetic Medicinal Plants of Kenya

Traditional medicinal plants have been used for decades in folk medicines in the treatment and management of several ailments and diseases including diabetes, pain, ulcers, cancers, and wounds, among others. This study focused on the phytochemical and antidiabetic activity of the commonly used antidiabetic medicinal species in Kenya. Phytochemical profiling of these species revealed flavonoids and terpenoids as the major chemical classes reported which have been linked with strong biological activities against the aforementioned diseases, among others. However, out of the selected twenty-two species, many of the natural product isolation studies have focused on only a few species, as highlighted in the study. All of the examined crude extracts from thirteen antidiabetic species demonstrated strong antidiabetic activities by inhibiting α-glucosidase and α-amylase among other mechanisms, while nine are yet to be evaluated for their antidiabetic activities. Isolated compounds S-Methylcysteine sulfoxide, quercetin, alliuocide G, 2-(3,4-Dihydroxybenzoyl)-2,4,6-trihydroxy-3 (2H)-benzofuranone, Luteolin-7-O-D-glucopyranoside, quercetin, 1,3,11α-Trihydroxy-9-(3,5,7-trihydroxy-4H-1-benzopyran-7-on-2-yl)-5α-(3,4-dihydroxy-phenyl)-5,6,11-hexahydro-5,6,11-trioxanaphthacene-12-one and [1,3,11α-Trihydroxy-9-(3,5,7-trihydroxy-4H-1-benzopyran-7-on-2-yl)-5α-(3,4-dihydroxy-phenyl)-5,6,11-hexahydro-5,6,11-trioxanaphthacene-12-one]-4'-O-D-gluco-pyranoside from Allium cepa have been found to exhibit significant antidiabetic activities. With the huge number of adults living with diabetes in Kenya and the available treatment methods being expensive yet not so effective, this study highlights alternative remedies by documenting the commonly used antidiabetic medicinal plants. Further, the study supports the antidiabetic use of these plants with the existing pharmacological profiles and highlights research study gaps. Therefore, it is urgent to conduct natural products isolation work on the selected antidiabetic species commonly used in Kenya and evaluate their antidiabetic activities, both in vitro and in vivo, to validate their antidiabetic use and come up with new antidiabetic drugs.

Clinical efficacy of Huanglian Wendan decoction in treating type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Huanglian Wendan decoction (HLWDD) is a traditional Chinese prescription, which has been used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in recent years. However, no studies have evaluated its underlying clinical efficacy. Therefore, we used systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the clinical efficacy of HLWDD in treating T2DM.

METHODS

The randomized controlled trials of HLWDD on T2DM were retrieved from Chinese and foreign databases. The primary outcomes included fasting blood glucose (FBG), 2-hour postprandial blood glucose (2hPG), and glycosylated hemoglobin, type A1c (HbA1c). The secondary outcomes included fasting serum insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c). Statistical analyses were performed using Review Manager and Stata software. Mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to describe results. The grades of recommendation assessment, development and evaluation approach was used to rate the quality of the evidence; and trial sequential analysis was used to evaluate the required information size and treatment benefits.

RESULTS

Twenty-three randomized controlled trials were included in this study. We showed that HLWDD can improve FBG (MD = -0.99, 95% CI: -1.10 to -0.88), 2hPG (MD = -1.57, 95% CI: -1.97 to -1.17), HbA1c (MD = -1.11, 95% CI: -1.42 to -0.80), HOMA-IR (MD = -0.80, 95% CI: -1.80 to -0.51), TC (MD = -0.65, 95% CI: -0.88 to -0.42), TG (MD = -0.32, 95% CI: -0.38 to -0.27), LDL-c (MD = -0.54, 95% CI: -0.66 to -0.41), and HDL-c (MD = 0.08, 95% CI: 0.02-0.15) levels in T2DM patients. Trial sequential analysis suggested that the eficacy of HLWDD in improving FBG, 2hPG, HbA1c, HOMA-IR, TC, TG, LDL-c, and HDL-c was sufficient to draw a firm conclusion. Grades of recommendation assessment showed that HLWDD only has high or moderate quality of evidence in improving FBG, and TG.

CONCLUSION

HLWDD can improve blood glucose and blood lipid levels in T2DM patients, and may be a potential drug to treat T2DM.

Unveiling the Anthelminthic Potential of Merremia vitifolia Stem through in Vitro and in Silico Approach

This study aimed to assess the anthelmintic activity of methanol extracts from Merremia vitifolia stems using a combination approach encompassing experimental, in vitro, and in silico evaluations. Despite the well-recognized pharmacological properties of M. vitifolia, its potential as an anthelmintic agent remained unexplored. This plant's anthelmintic potential was assessed on adult earthworms (Pheretima posthuma), revealing a dose-dependent reduction in spontaneous motility leading to paralysis and eventual mortality. The most effective dose of M. vitifolia (200 mg/ml) for anthelmintic effects on Pheretima posthuma was identified. Complementary in silico investigations were also conducted, employing Autodock PyRx 0.8 for docking studies of reported M. vitifolia compounds. Notably, quercetin emerged as a promising candidate with superior binding energies against β-tubulin (-8.3 Kcal/mol). Moreover, this comprehensive research underlines the anthelmintic potential of Merremia vitifolia stem extract and highlights quercetin as a noteworthy compound for further investigation in the quest for novel anthelmintic agents.

Stigmasterol Protects Against Steatohepatitis Induced by High-Fat and High-Cholesterol Diet in Mice by Enhancing the Alternative Bile Acid Synthesis Pathway

BACKGROUND

Hepatic cholesterol accumulation is a significant risk factor in the progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to steatohepatitis. However, the precise mechanism by which stigmasterol (STG) mitigates this process remains unclear.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate the potential mechanism underlying the protective effect of STG in mice with NAFLD progressing to steatohepatitis while being fed a high-fat and high-cholesterol (HFHC) diet.

METHODS

Male C57BL/6 mice were fed an HFHC diet for 16 wk to establish the NAFLD model. Subsequently, the mice received STG or a vehicle via oral gavage while continuing the HFHC diet for an additional 10 wk. The study evaluated hepatic lipid deposition and inflammation as well as the expression of key rate-limiting enzymes involved in the bile acid (BA) synthesis pathways. BAs in the colonic contents were quantified using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

Compared with the vehicle control group, STG significantly reduced hepatic cholesterol accumulation (P < 0.01) and suppressed the gene expression of NLRP3 inflammasome and interleukin-18 (P < 0.05) in the livers of HFHC diet-fed mice. The total fecal BA content in the STG group was nearly double that of the vehicle control group. Additionally, the administration of STG increased the concentrations of representative hydrophilic BAs in the colonic contents (P < 0.05) along with the upregulation of gene and protein expression of CYP7B1 (P < 0.01). Furthermore, STG enhanced the α-diversity of the gut microbiota and partially reversed the alterations in the relative abundance of the gut microbiota induced by the HFHC diet.

CONCLUSIONS

STG mitigates steatohepatitis by enhancing the alternative pathway for BA synthesis.

Phytosome Supplements for Delivering Gymnema inodorum Phytonutrients to Prevent Inflammation in Macrophages and Insulin Resistance in Adipocytes

Gymnema inodorum (GI) is a leafy green vegetable found in the northern region of Thailand. A GI leaf extract has been developed as a dietary supplement for metabolic diabetic control. However, the active compounds in the GI leaf extract are relatively nonpolar. This study aimed to develop phytosome formulations of the GI extract to improve the efficiencies of their phytonutrients in terms of anti-inflammatory and anti-insulin-resistant activities in macrophages and adipocytes, respectively. Our results showed that the phytosomes assisted the GI extract's dispersion in an aqueous solution. The GI phytocompounds were assembled into a phospholipid bilayer membrane as spherical nanoparticles about 160-180 nm in diameter. The structure of the phytosomes allowed phenolic acids, flavonoids and triterpene derivatives to be embedded in the phospholipid membrane. The existence of GI phytochemicals in phytosomes significantly changed the particle's surface charge from neutral to negative within the range of -35 mV to -45 mV. The phytosome delivery system significantly exhibited the anti-inflammatory activity of the GI extract, indicated by the lower production of nitric oxide from inflamed macrophages compared to the non-encapsulated extract. However, the phospholipid component of phytosomes slightly interfered with the anti-insulin-resistant effects of the GI extract by decreasing the glucose uptake activity and increasing the lipid degradation of adipocytes. Altogether, the nano-phytosome is a potent carrier for transporting GI phytochemicals to prevent an early stage of T2DM.

A Comprehensive Update on Phytochemistry, Analytical Aspects, Medicinal Attributes, Specifications and Stability of Stigmasterol

Phytosterols are bioactive substances naturally found in plant cell membranes, and their chemical structure is comparable to cholesterol found in mammalian cells. They are widely distributed in plant foods like olive oil, nuts, seeds, and legumes. Amongst the variety of phytosterols, stigmasterol is the vital compound found abundantly in plants. Numerous hormones, including estrogen, progesterone, corticoids and androgen, are synthesized by stigmasterol. Multiple in-vitro and in-vivo investigations have shown that stigmasterol has various biological effects, including antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic, respiratory diseases, and lipid-lowering effects. Experimental research on stigmasterol provides indisputable proof that this phytosterol has the potential to be employed in supplements used to treat the illnesses mentioned above. This substance has a high potential, making it a noteworthy medication in the future. Although several researchers have investigated this phytosterol to assess its prospective qualities, it has not yet attained therapeutic levels, necessitating additional clinical studies. This review offers a comprehensive update on stigmasterol, including chemical framework, biosynthesis, synthetic derivatives, extraction and isolation, analytical aspects, pharmacological profile, patent status, clinical trials, stability and specifications as per regulatory bodies.

Anti-Glucotoxicity Effect of Phytoconstituents via Inhibiting MGO-AGEs Formation and Breaking MGO-AGEs

The therapeutic benefits of phytochemicals in the treatment of various illnesses and disorders are well documented. They show significant promise for the discovery and creation of novel medications for treating a variety of human diseases. Numerous phytoconstituents have shown antibiotic, antioxidant, and wound-healing effects in the conventional system. Traditional medicines based on alkaloids, phenolics, tannins, saponins, terpenes, steroids, flavonoids, glycosides, and phytosterols have been in use for a long time and are crucial as alternative treatments. These phytochemical elements are crucial for scavenging free radicals, capturing reactive carbonyl species, changing protein glycation sites, inactivating carbohydrate hydrolases, fighting pathological conditions, and accelerating the healing of wounds. In this review, 221 research papers have been reviewed. This research sought to provide an update on the types and methods of formation of methylglyoxal-advanced glycation end products (MGO-AGEs) and molecular pathways induced by AGEs during the progression of the chronic complications of diabetes and associated diseases as well as to discuss the role of phytoconstituents in MGO scavenging and AGEs breaking. The development and commercialization of functional foods using these natural compounds can provide potential health benefits.

Assessment of the antidiabetic potential of extract and novel phytoniosomes formulation of Tradescantia pallida leaves in the alloxan-induced diabetic mouse model

Diabetes inflicts health and economic burdens on communities and the present antidiabetic therapies have several drawbacks. Tradescantia pallida leaves have been used as a food colorant and food preservative; however, to our knowledge antidiabetic potential of the leaves of T. pallida has not been explored yet. The current study aimed to investigate the antidiabetic potential of T. pallida leaves extract and its comparison with the novel nisosome formulation of the extract. The leaves extract and phytoniosomes of T. pallida in doses of 15, 25 and 50 mg/kg were used to assess the oral glucose loaded, and alloxan-induced diabetic mice models. The biological parameters evaluated were; change in body weight, blood biochemistry, relative organ to body weight ratio and histopathology of the liver, pancreas and kidney. Results revealed that the extract 50 mg/kg and phytoniosomes 25 and 50 mg/kg remarkably reduced the blood glucose level in all hyperglycemic mice by possibly inhibiting α-amylase and α-glucosidase production. Body weight and blood biochemical parameters were considerably improved in phytoniosomes 50 mg/kg treated group. The relative body weight was similar to those of healthy mice in extract 50 mg/kg, phytoniosomes 25 mg/kg, and phytoniosomes 50 mg/kg treated groups. Histopathology showed the regeneration of cells in the CHN50 treated group. Hyphenated chromatographic analysis revealed potent metabolites, which confirmed the antidiabetic potential of the extract by inhibiting α-amylase and α-glucosidase using in silico analysis. The present data suggested that phytoniosomes have shown better antidiabetic potential than crude extract of these leaves.

In Vivo and In Vitro Antidiabetic Efficacy of Aqueous and Methanolic Extracts of Orthosiphon Stamineus Benth

Orthosiphon stamineus is a popular folk herb used to treat diabetes and some other disorders. Previous studies have shown that O. stamineus extracts were able to balance blood glucose levels in diabetic rat animal models. However, the antidiabetic mechanism of O. stamineus is not fully known. This study was carried out to test the chemical composition, cytotoxicity, and antidiabetic activity of O. stamineus (aerial) methanol and water extracts. GC/MS phytochemical analysis of O. stamineus methanol and water extracts revealed 52 and 41 compounds, respectively. Ten active compounds are strong antidiabetic candidates. Oral treatment of diabetic mice with O. stamineus extracts for 3 weeks resulted significant reductions in blood glucose levels from 359 ± 7 mg/dL in diabetic non-treated mice to 164 ± 2 mg/dL and 174 ± 3 mg/dL in water- and methanol-based-extract-treated mice, respectively. The efficacy of O. stamineus extracts in augmenting glucose transporter-4 (GLUT4) translocation to the plasma membrane (PM) was tested in a rat muscle cell line stably expressing myc-tagged GLUT4 (L6-GLUT4myc) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The methanol extract was more efficient in enhancing GLUT4 translocation to the PM. It increased GLUT4 translocation at 250 µg/mL to 279 ± 15% and 351 ± 20% in the absence and presence of insulin, respectively. The same concentration of water extract enhanced GLUT4 translocation to 142 ± 2.5% and 165 ± 5% in the absence and presence of insulin, respectively. The methanol and water extracts were safe up to 250 µg/mL as measured with a Methylthiazol Tetrazolium (MTT) cytotoxic assay. The extracts exhibited antioxidant activity as measured by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. O. stamineus methanol extract reached the maximal inhibition of 77 ± 10% at 500 µg/mL, and O. stamineus water extract led to 59 ± 3% inhibition at the same concentration. These findings indicate that O. stamineus possesses antidiabetic activity in part by scavenging the oxidants and enhancing GLUT4 translocation to the PM in skeletal muscle.

Platycodin D ameliorates hyperglycaemia and liver metabolic disturbance in HFD/STZ-induced type 2 diabetic mice

In this work, we investigated the ameliorative effects of platycodin D (PD), a major active chemical ingredient isolated from the roots of Platycodon grandiflorum (PG), on high-fat diet (HFD)/streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 2 diabetes (T2D) mice. PD treatment (2.5 and 5.0 mg kg^-1) improved HFD-induced body weight gain. PD administration also decreased the fasting blood glucose (FBG) level and improved glucose and insulin tolerance levels. These data collectively showed that PD could maintain glucose homeostasis. In addition, the diabetic mice with PD treatment also showed fewer pathological changes in liver tissues and improved hepatic functional indexes with respect to the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and recovery of abnormal liver function caused by T2D. Except for these, PD decreased the decomposition of hepatic glycogen. The results from western blot analysis showed that PD treatment might regulate the hepatic gluconeogenesis pathway with the increased phosphorylation/expression of AMPK and decreased expressions of PCK1 and G6Pase. In the aspect of lipid metabolism, PD decreased the whole-body lipid levels, including total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and reduced the hepatic fat accumulation induced by T2D through the AMPK/ACC/CPT-1 fatty acid anabolism pathway. In addition, the results of molecular docking showed that PD may have a potential direct effect on AMPK and other key glycolipid metabolism proteins. To summarize, PD modulation of hepatic glycolipid metabolism abnormalities is promising for T2D therapy in the future.

Network pharmacology predicts combinational effect of novel herbal pair consist of Ephedrae herba and Coicis semen on adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells

BACKGROUND

Herbal combinations are regarded as basic strategy in oriental medicine with various purposes. Ephedrae herba (EH) and Coicis semen (CS) are two herbal medicines used to treat obesity in many herbal prescriptions, yet the effect and significance of this herbal pair have not been evaluated.

PURPOSE

This study is to elucidate the effect of a novel herbal pair, EH-CS, on obesity and identify the key synergistic mechanism underlying it.

METHODS

We investigated the network of herbs comprising the anti-obesity herbal prescriptions. Using the tools of network pharmacology, we investigated the compound-target interactions of EH and CS in combination to predict their effects in combination. Five EH-CS samples with different EH to CS ratios were prepared to investigate their efficacies in adipocytes.

RESULTS

1-mode network analysis of herbs in prescriptions based on literature review revealed the importance of EH-CS in anti-obesity prescriptions. The herbal combination comprised of equivalent weights (1:1) of EH and CS most potently reduced mature adipocyte adiposity, although several markers of adipogenesis and lipid synthesis were more suppressed by pure EH. PTGS2 (COX-2 gene) expression, a common target of EH and CS as deduced by compound-target network analysis, was affected by EH-CS extract treatments. However, EH at high concentration (25 μg/ml) notably increased PTGS2 expression without adversely affecting cell viability. However, EH-CS combination of the same concentration markedly decreased PTGS2 gene expression.

CONCLUSION

These results show that the compounds in CS and EH act in concert to enhance the pharmacological effect of EH, but control unexpected effects of EH treatment.

Advances in Stigmasterol on its anti-tumor effect and mechanism of action

Stigmasterol is a phytosterol derived from multiple herbaceous plants such as herbs, soybean and tobacco, and it has received much attention for its various pharmacological effects including anti-inflammation, anti-diabetes, anti-oxidization, and lowering blood cholesterol. Multiple studies have revealed that stigmasterol holds promise as a potentially beneficial therapeutic agent for malignant tumors because of its significant anti-tumor bioactivity. It is reported that stigmasterol has anti-tumor effect in a variety of malignancies (e.g., breast, lung, liver and ovarian cancers) by promoting apoptosis, inhibiting proliferation, metastasis and invasion, and inducing autophagy in tumor cells. Mechanistic study shows that stigmasterol triggers apoptosis in tumor cells by regulating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and the generation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, while its anti-proliferative activity is mainly dependent on its modulatory effect on cyclin proteins and cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK). There have been multiple mechanisms underlying the anti-tumor effect of stigmasterol, which make stigmasterol promising as a new anti-tumor agent and provide insights into research on its anti-tumor role. Presently, stigmasterol has been poorly understood, and there is a paucity of systemic review on the mechanism underlying its anti-tumor effect. The current study attempts to conduct a literature review on stigmasterol for its anti-tumor effect to provide reference for researchers and clinical workers.

Trypsin Inhibitor Isolated From Glycine max (Soya Bean) Extraction, Purification, and Characterization

The current study aims to isolate, purify, and characterize the trypsin inhibitor protein from seeds of soya beans, scientifically known as Glycine max. Its seeds were ground, and the powder was soaked several times using n-hexane. It was added to phosphate buffer saline (PBS) followed by filtration and centrifugation of the PBS dissolved extract. The supernatant was subjected to ammonium sulfate precipitation and about six fractions, 30% to 80% were prepared. The centrifuged pellets obtained from each fraction were dialyzed and run on SDS-PAGE. The trypsin inhibitor protein was precipitated and characterized in 30% pellet and molecular weight was 21.5 kDa compared to protein ladder (ThermoFisher 10-170 kDa). GC-MS analysis revealed the steroid derivatives such as stigmasterol, campesterol, beta-sitosterol, and gamma-tocopherol. Glycine max trypsin inhibitor could be used as a plant-derived drug to overcome the over-activation of trypsin without its real substrate (proteins) becoming activated and start auto digestion leading to pancreatitis.

Health Benefits and Pharmacological Properties of Stigmasterol

Stigmasterol is an unsaturated phytosterol belonging to the class of tetracyclic triterpenes. It is one of the most common plant sterols, found in a variety of natural sources, including vegetable fats or oils from many plants. Currently, stigmasterol has been examined via in vitro and in vivo assays and molecular docking for its various biological activities on different metabolic disorders. The findings indicate potent pharmacological effects such as anticancer, anti-osteoarthritis, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, immunomodulatory, antiparasitic, antifungal, antibacterial, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties. Indeed, stigmasterol from plants and algae is a promising molecule in the development of drugs for cancer therapy by triggering intracellular signaling pathways in numerous cancers. It acts on the Akt/mTOR and JAK/STAT pathways in ovarian and gastric cancers. In addition, stigmasterol markedly disrupted angiogenesis in human cholangiocarcinoma by tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) signaling down-regulation. The association of stigmasterol and sorafenib promoted caspase-3 activity and down-regulated levels of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 in breast cancer. Antioxidant activities ensuring lipid peroxidation and DNA damage lowering conferred to stigmasterol chemoprotective activities in skin cancer. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) regulation also contributes to the neuroprotective effects of stigmasterol, as well as dopamine depletion and acetylcholinesterase inhibition. The anti-inflammatory properties of phytosterols involve the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines, the decrease in inflammatory mediator release, and the inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Stigmasterol exerts anti-diabetic effects by reducing fasting glucose, serum insulin levels, and oral glucose tolerance. Other findings showed the antiparasitic activities of this molecule against certain strains of parasites such as Trypanosoma congolense (in vivo) and on promastigotes and amastigotes of the Leishmania major (in vitro). Some stigmasterol-rich plants were able to inhibit Candida albicans, virusei, and tropicalis at low doses. Accordingly, this review outlines key insights into the pharmacological abilities of stigmasterol and the specific mechanisms of action underlying some of these effects. Additionally, further investigation regarding pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and toxicology is recommended.

Arisaema heterophyllum Blume Monomer Stigmasterol Targets PPARγ and Inhibits the Viability and Tumorigenicity of Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells NCI-H1975

To clarify the regulatory effect and molecular mechanism of Arisaema heterophyllum Blume (AhBl) monomer stigmasterol on lung adenocarcinoma in human lung adenocarcinoma cells NCI-H1975 cultured in vitro and in nude mice. Oil red O staining, free fatty acid detection, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and NADPH were applied to elucidate the regulatory effect of stigmasterol on the energy metabolism of NCI-H1975 cells. Simultaneously, colony formation assay and nude mouse tumorigenesis were performed to clarify the underlying mechanisms of stigmasterol on the proliferation and tumorigenesis of NCI-H1975 cells. Furthermore, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) inhibitor GW9662 was supplemented to determine the expression changes of cyclins to clarify the regulation mechanism of stigmasterol. The results revealed that stigmasterol administration markedly inhibited the viability but promoted lipid deposition of NCI-H1975 cells. Meanwhile, the reduction of cell energy metabolism affected cell proliferation and colony formation. qPCR and western blot assays indicated that stigmasterol played a role in regulating the expression of cyclins and PPARγ signaling pathway proteins. Nude mouse tumorigenesis suggested that tumor size and weight in the stigmasterol-treated group were apparently lower as compared with the control group. Tumor tissue cells developed varying degrees of degeneration and large areas of ischemic necrosis presented in the central and peripheral cells. Immunohistochemistry results revealed that Ki67 expression in the stigmasterol group was substantially inhibited, while PPARγ expression was greatly elevated as compared with the control. GW9662 could mediate the inhibitory effect of stigmasterol on NCI-H1975 cells. The current study demonstrated that stigmasterol targeted PPARγ and inhibited the viability and tumorigenicity of lung adenocarcinoma cells NCI-H1975.

Network pharmacology-based strategy for predicting therapy targets of Sanqi and Huangjing in diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND

A comprehensive literature search shows that Sanqi and Huangjing (SQHJ) can improve diabetes treatment in vivo and in vitro, respectively. However, the combined effects of SQHJ on diabetes mellitus (DM) are still unclear.

AIM

To explore the potential mechanism of Panax notoginseng (Sanqi in Chinese) and Polygonati Rhizoma (Huangjing in Chinese) for the treatment of DM using network pharmacology.

METHODS

The active components of SQHJ and targets were predicted and screened by network pharmacology through oral bioavailability and drug-likeness filtration using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Analysis Platform database. The potential targets for the treatment of DM were identified according to the DisGeNET database. A comparative analysis was performed to investigate the overlapping genes between active component targets and DM treatment-related targets. We constructed networks of the active component-target and target pathways of SQHJ using Cytoscape software and then analyzed the gene functions. Using the STRING database to perform an interaction analysis among overlapping genes and a topological analysis, the interactions between potential targets were identified. Gene Ontology (GO) function analyses and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses were conducted in DAVID.

RESULTS

We screened 18 active components from 157 SQHJ components, 187 potential targets for active components and 115 overlapping genes for active components and DM. The network pharmacology analysis revealed that quercetin, beta-sitosterol, baicalein, etc. were the major active components. The mechanism underlying the SQHJ intervention effects in DM may involve nine core targets (TP53, AKT1, CASP3, TNF, interleukin-6, PTGS2, MMP9, JUN, and MAPK1). The screening and enrichment analysis revealed that the treatment of DM using SQHJ primarily involved 16 GO enriched terms and 13 related pathways.

CONCLUSION

SQHJ treatment for DM targets TP53, AKT1, CASP3, and TNF and participates in pathways in leishmaniasis and cancer.

Pharmacologically Active Phytomolecules Isolated from Traditional Antidiabetic Plants and Their Therapeutic Role for the Management of Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic complication that affects people of all ages. The increased prevalence of diabetes worldwide has led to the development of several synthetic drugs to tackle this health problem. Such drugs, although effective as antihyperglycemic agents, are accompanied by various side effects, costly, and inaccessible to the majority of people living in underdeveloped countries. Medicinal plants have been used traditionally throughout the ages to treat various ailments due to their availability and safe nature. Medicinal plants are a rich source of phytochemicals that possess several health benefits. As diabetes continues to become prevalent, health care practitioners are considering plant-based medicines as a potential source of antidiabetic drugs due to their high potency and fewer side effects. To better understand the mechanism of action of medicinal plants, their active phytoconstituents are being isolated and investigated thoroughly. In this review article, we have focused on pharmacologically active phytomolecules isolated from medicinal plants presenting antidiabetic activity and the role they play in the treatment and management of diabetes. These natural compounds may represent as good candidates for a novel therapeutic approach and/or effective and alternative therapies for diabetes.

A Comprehensive Update on the Bioactive Compounds from Seagrasses

Marine angiosperms produce a wide variety of secondary metabolites with unique structural features that have the potential to be developed as effective and potent drugs for various diseases. Recently, research trends in secondary metabolites have led to drug discovery with an emphasis on their pharmacological activity. Among marine angiosperms, seagrasses have been utilized for a variety of remedial purposes, such as treating fevers, mental disorders, wounds, skin diseases, muscle pain, and stomach problems. Hence, it is essential to study their bioactive metabolites, medical properties, and underlying mechanisms when considering their pharmacological activity. However, there is a scarcity of studies on the compilation of existing work on their pharmacological uses, pharmacological pathways, and bioactive compounds. This review aims to compile the pharmacological activities of numerous seagrass species, their secondary metabolites, pharmacological properties, and mechanism of action. In conclusion, this review highlights the potency of seagrasses as a promising source of natural therapeutical products for preventing or inhibiting human diseases.

The Genus Alternanthera: Phytochemical and Ethnopharmacological Perspectives

Ethnopharmacological relevance: The genus Alternanthera (Amaranthaceae) comprises 139 species including 14 species used traditionally for the treatment of various ailments such as hypertension, pain, inflammation, diabetes, cancer, microbial and mental disorders.

Aim of the review: To search research gaps through critical assessment of pharmacological activities not performed to validate traditional claims of various species of Alternanthera. This review will aid natural product researchers in identifying Alternanthera species with therapeutic potential for future investigation.

Materials and methods: Scattered raw data on ethnopharmacological, morphological, phytochemical, pharmacological, toxicological, and clinical studies of various species of the genus Alternanthera have been compiled utilizing search engines like SciFinder, Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, and Open J-Gate for 100 years up to April 2021.

Results: Few species of Alternanthera genus have been exhaustively investigated phytochemically, and about 129 chemical constituents related to different classes such as flavonoids, steroids, saponins, alkaloids, triterpenoids, glycosides, and phenolic compounds have been isolated from 9 species. Anticancer, antioxidant, antibacterial, CNS depressive, antidiabetic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulator effects have been explored in the twelve species of the genus. A toxicity study has been conducted on 3 species and a clinical study on 2 species.

Conclusions: The available literature on pharmacological studies of Alternanthera species reveals that few species have been selected based on ethnobotanical surveys for scientific validation of their traditional claims. But most of these studies have been conducted on uncharacterized and non-standardized crude extracts. A roadmap of research needs to be developed for the isolation of new bioactive compounds from Alternanthera species, which can emerge out as clinically potential medicines.

Structure and Properties of Organogels Prepared from Rapeseed Oil with Stigmasterol

This work used the natural ingredient stigmasterol as an oleogelator to explore the effect of concentration on the properties of organogels. Organogels based on rapeseed oil were investigated using various techniques (oil binding capacity, rheology, polarized light microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) to better understand their physical and microscopic properties. Results showed that stigmasterol was an efficient and thermoreversible oleogelator, capable of structuring rapeseed oil at a stigmasterol concentration as low as 2% with a gelation temperature of 5 °C. The oil binding capacity values of organogels increased to 99.74% as the concentration of stigmasterol was increased to 6%. The rheological properties revealed that organogels prepared with stigmasterol were a pseudoplastic fluid with non-covalent physical crosslinking, and the G' of the organogels did not change with the frequency of scanning increased, showing the characteristics of strong gel. The microscopic properties and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed that stigmasterol formed rod-like crystals through the self-assembly of intermolecular hydrogen bonds, fixing rapeseed oil in its three-dimensional structure to form organogels. Therefore, stigmasterol can be considered as a good organogelator. It is expected to be widely used in food, medicine, and other biological-related fields.

A Comprehensive Review on Therapeutic Perspectives of Phytosterols in Insulin Resistance: A Mechanistic Approach

Natural products in the form of functional foods have become increasingly popular due to their protective effects against life-threatening diseases, low risk of adverse effects, affordability, and accessibility. Plant components such as phytosterol, in particular, have drawn a lot of press recently due to a link between their consumption and a modest incidence of global problems, such as Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (T2DM), cancer, and cardiovascular disease. In the management of diet-related metabolic diseases, such as T2DM and cardiovascular disorders, these plant-based functional foods and nutritional supplements have unquestionably led the market in terms of cost-effectiveness, therapeutic efficacy, and safety. Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder categoriszed by high blood sugar and insulin resistance, which influence major metabolic organs, such as the liver, adipose tissue, and skeletal muscle. These chronic hyperglycemia fallouts result in decreased glucose consumption by body cells, increased fat mobilisation from fat storage cells, and protein depletion in human tissues, keeping the tissues in a state of crisis. In addition, functional foods such as phytosterols improve the body’s healing process from these crises by promoting a proper physiological metabolism and cellular activities. They are plant-derived steroid molecules having structure and function similar to cholesterol, which is found in vegetables, grains, nuts, olive oil, wood pulp, legumes, cereals, and leaves, and are abundant in nature, along with phytosterol derivatives. The most copious phytosterols seen in the human diet are sitosterol, stigmasterol, and campesterol, which can be found in free form, as fatty acid/cinnamic acid esters or as glycosides processed by pancreatic enzymes. Accumulating evidence reveals that phytosterols and diets enriched with them can control glucose and lipid metabolism, as well as insulin resistance. Despite this, few studies on the advantages of sterol control in diabetes care have been published. As a basis, the primary objective of this review is to convey extensive updated information on the possibility of managing diabetes and associated complications with sterol-rich foods in molecular aspects.

Phytochemical Characterization, Antioxidant Activity, and Cytotoxicity of Methanolic Leaf Extract of Chlorophytum Comosum (Green Type) (Thunb.) Jacq

Chlorophytum genus has been extensively studied due to its diverse biological activities. We evaluated the methanolic extract of leaves of Chlorophytum comosum (Green type) (Thunb.) Jacques, the species that is less studied compared to C. borivilianum. The aim was to identify phytoconstituents of the methanolic extract of leaves of C. comosum and biological properties of its different fractions. Water fraction was analyzed with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. Nineteen compounds belonging to different chemical classes were identified in the methanolic extract of leaves of C. comosum (Green type) (Thunb.) Jacques. In addition to several fatty acids, isoprenoid and steroid compounds were found among the most abundant constituents. One of the identified compounds, 4'-methylphenyl-1C-sulfonyl-β-d-galactoside, was not detected earlier in Chlorophytum extracts. The water fraction was toxic to HeLa cells but not to Vero cells. Our data demonstrate that methanolic extract of leaves of C. comosum can be a valuable source of bioactive constituents. The water fraction of the extract exhibited promising antitumor potential based on a high ratio of HeLa vs. Vero cytotoxicity.

Non-polar metabolites of green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) potentiate the antidiabetic activity of mesenchymal stem cells in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats

Green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) are consumed as pods or mature seeds (common beans). The pods were extracted with 95% ethanol and processed to prepare non-polar and polar fractions. Comparing the antihyperglycemic activity of both fractions, non-polar fraction (NPF, 200 mg kg^-1  day^-1 ) lowered blood glucose in streptozotocin diabetic rats by 65% compared to 57% for the polar fraction at the same dose. When NPF treatment was combined with injection of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) a 4.4-fold increase in serum insulin and a 73.6% reduction in blood glucose were observed compared to untreated control. Additionally, a significant decrease in malondialdehyde (76.2%), nitric oxide (68.2%), cholesterol (76.1%), and triglycerides (69.5%) and a 1.75-fold increase in HDL concentrations were observed in the group treated with this combination compared to diabetic animals. Interestingly, NPF increased homing of MSC in pancreas potentiating their antidiabetic activity. Finally, 26 compounds were identified in NPF using LC/MS analysis and four were isolated in pure form. The isolated compounds namely calotroproceryl acetate, fridelin, calotroproceryl A, and stigmasterol showed good inhibitory activity against pancreatic lipase with IC₅₀ at 1.93, 1.07, 1.34 and 1.44-1 μg/ml, respectively. Additionally, these compounds inhibited α-amylase, albeit at higher concentration, with IC₅₀ at 248, 212, 254, and 155 μg/ml for calotroproceryl acetate, fridelin, calotroproceryl A, and stigmasterol, respectively. Our results suggest that green beans extract can potentiate effect of MSC in diabetes directly due to its own antidiabetic effect and indirectly by increasing MSC homing in pancreatic tissues. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: It has been suggested in this study that green beans can improve hyperglycemia, oxidative balance in diabetes, so green beans can be promoted as a healthy nutrient for diabetic patients. Green beans also can enhance homing and differentiation of mesnchymal stem cells in the pancreas for future stem cell therapy of type I diabetes.

Antidiabetic Medicinal Plants Used in Democratic Republic of Congo: A Critical Review of Ethnopharmacology and Bioactivity Data

Several studies have been conducted and published on medicinal plants used to manage Diabetes Mellitus worldwide. It is of great interest to review available studies from a country or a region to resort to similarities/discrepancies and data quality. Here, we examined data related to ethnopharmacology and bioactivity of antidiabetic plants used in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Data were extracted from Google Scholar, Medline/PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, the Wiley Online Library, Web of Science, and other documents focusing on ethnopharmacology, pharmacology, and phytochemistry antidiabetic plants used in the Democratic Republic of Congo from 2005 to September 2021. The Kew Botanic Royal Garden and Plants of the World Online web databases were consulted to verify the taxonomic information. CAMARADES checklist was used to assess the quality of animal studies and Jadad scores for clinical trials. In total, 213 plant species belonging to 72 botanical families were reported. Only one plant, Droogmansia munamensis, is typically native to the DRC flora; 117 species are growing in the DRC and neighboring countries; 31 species are either introduced from other regions, and 64 are not specified. Alongside the treatment of Diabetes, about 78.13% of plants have multiple therapeutic uses, depending on the study sites. Experimental studies explored the antidiabetic activity of 133 plants, mainly in mice, rats, guinea pigs, and rabbits. Several chemical classes of antidiabetic compounds isolated from 67 plant species have been documented. Rare phase II clinical trials have been conducted. Critical issues included poor quality methodological protocols, author name incorrectly written (16.16%) or absent (14.25%) or confused with a synonym (4.69%), family name revised (17.26%) or missing (1.10%), voucher number not available 336(92.05%), ecological information not reported (49.59%). Most plant species have been identified and authenticated (89.32%). Hundreds of plants are used to treat Diabetes by traditional healers in DRC. However, most plants are not exclusively native to the local flora and have multiple therapeutic uses. The analysis showed the scarcity or absence of high-quality, in-depth pharmacological studies. There is a need to conduct further studies of locally specific species to fill the gap before their introduction into the national pharmacopeia.

Anti-diabetic Potential of a Stigmasterol From the Seaweed Gelidium spinosum and Its Application in the Formulation of Nanoemulsion Conjugate for the Development of Functional Biscuits

The seaweed Gelidium spinosum was selected for the extraction of phytosterol by the Soxhlet method. The extracted phytosterol was chemically characterized as stigmasterol using Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. The antioxidant and α-amylase inhibitory activity of stigmasterol has been confirmed by in vitro assays. The in vivo studies demonstrated an anti-diabetic effect in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced hyperglycemic rats. Biochemical analysis showed administration of stigmasterol reduced the blood sugar, urea, and creatinine level. The stigmasterol was then nano-emulsified and incorporated into dough for biscuit formulation. The stigmasterol incorporated biscuit showed higher proximate values, low moisture content, lighter color and the textural property revealed lower hardness. Sensorial results showed acceptability when compared to the control. This study demonstrated the stigmasterol reduced hyperglycemic effects and therefore could be used as a supplement in diets for diabetic patients.

Chebulagic acid attenuates HFD/streptozotocin induced impaired glucose metabolism and insulin resistance via up regulations of PPAR γ and GLUT 4 in type 2 diabetic rats

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of chebulagic acid on enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism in high-fat diet/streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in albino male Wistar rats by feeding them with a high-fat diet comprising of 84.3% standard laboratory rat chow, 5% lard, 10% yolk powder, 0.2% cholesterol, and 5% bile salt for 2 weeks. After 2 weeks, the animals were kept in an overnight fast and injected with a low dose of streptozotocin (35 mg/kg, dissolved in 0.1 M sodium citrate buffer, pH 4.5). At the end of the experimental periods, the blood glucose, plasma insulin, hemoglobin, glycated hemoglobin levels, homeostatic model of insulin resistance, glycogen content, glycogen synthase, glycogen phosphorylase were measured in high-fat diet and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats whereas the glucose metabolic enzymes such as hexokinase, glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase, glucose 6 phosphatase, fructose 1,6 bisphosphatase and protein expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) and Glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) were analyzed. Administration of chebulagic acid to HFD/STZ -induced diabetic rats for 30 days significantly decreased the levels of plasma glucose, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, glycogen phosphorylase and glycosylated hemoglobin and increased the levels of insulin, glycogen content and glycogen synthase. On the other hand, the altered activity of carbohydrate metabolic enzymes, PPAR-γ and GLUT4 were brought back to near-normal levels on treatment with chebulagic acid. The effect produced by chebulagic acid on various parameters was comparable to that of metformin.

Exploring the Molecular Mechanism of Liuwei Dihuang Pills for Treating Diabetic Nephropathy by Combined Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking

BACKGROUND

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a common and serious complication of diabetes, but without a satisfactory treatment strategy till now. Liuwei Dihuang pills (LDP), an effective Chinese medicinal formula, has been used to treat DN for more than 1000 years. However, its underlying mechanism of action is still vague.

METHODS

Active compounds and corresponding targets of LDP were predicted from the TCMSP database. DN disease targets were extracted from the OMIM, GeneCards, TTD, DisGeNET, and DrugBank databases. Subsequently, the "herbal-compound-target" network and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network were constructed and analyzed via the STRING web platform and Cytoscape software. GO functional and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were carried out on the Metascape web platform. Molecular docking utilized AutoDock Vina and PyMOL software.

RESULTS

41 active components and 186 corresponding targets of LDP were screened out. 131 common targets of LDP and DN were acquired. Quercetin, kaempferol, beta-sitosterol, diosgenin, and stigmasterol could be defined as five crucial compounds. JUN, MAPK8, AKT1, EGF, TP53, VEGFA, MMP9, MAPK1, and TNF might be the nine key targets. The enrichment analysis showed that common targets were mainly associated with inflammation reaction, oxidative stress, immune regulation, and cell apoptosis. AGE-RAGE and IL-17 were the suggested two significant signal pathways. Molecular docking revealed that the nine key targets could closely bind to their corresponding active compounds.

CONCLUSION

The present study fully reveals the multicompound's and multitarget's characteristics of LDP in DN treatment. Furthermore, this study provides valuable evidence for further scientific research of the pharmacological mechanisms and broader clinical application.

Explore the active ingredients and mechanisms in Musa basjoo pseudostem juice against diabetes based on animal experiment, gas chromatography-mass spectrometer and network pharmacology

BACKGROUND

Musa basjoo pseudostem juice (MBSJ) is a well-known Chinese medicine, and Miao people use MBSJ to treat diabetes. In this work, the active ingredients and molecular mechanism of MBSJ against diabetes were explored.

METHODS

Anti-diabetic activity of MBSJ was evaluated using diabetic rats, and then the ingredients in the small-polar parts of MBSJ were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS). Targets were obtained from several databases to develop the "ingredient-target-disease" network by Cytoscape. A collaborative analysis was carried out using the tools in Cytoscape and R packages, and molecular docking was also performed.

RESULTS

MBSJ improved the oral glucose tolerance and insulin tolerance, and reduced fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein levels in the serum of diabetic rats. 13 potential compounds were identified by GC-MS for subsequent analysis, including Dibutyl phthalate, Oleamide, Stigmasterol, Stigmast-4-en-3-one, etc. The anti-diabetic effect of MBSJ was related to multiple signaling pathways, including Neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, Phospholipase D signaling pathway, Endocrine resistance, Rap1 signaling pathway, EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance, etc. Molecular docking at least partially verified the screening results of network pharmacology.

CONCLUSION

MBSJ had good anti-diabetic activity. The small-polar parts of MBSJ were rich in anti-diabetic active ingredients. Furthermore, the analysis results showed that the anti-diabetic effect of the small-polar parts of MBSJ may be the result of multiple components, multiple targets, and multiple pathways. The current research results can provide important support for studying the active ingredients and exploring the underlying mechanism of MBSJ against diabetes.

Gundelia tournefortii: Fractionation, Chemical Composition and GLUT4 Translocation Enhancement in Muscle Cell Line

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a chronic metabolic disease, which could affect the daily life of patients and increase their risk of developing other diseases. Synthetic anti-diabetic drugs usually show severe side effects. In the last few decades, plant-derived drugs have been intensively studied, particularly because of a rapid development of the instruments used in analytical chemistry. We tested the efficacy of Gundelia tournefortii L. (GT) in increasing the translocation of glucose transporter-4 (GLUT4) to the myocyte plasma membrane (PM), as a main strategy to manage T2D. In this study, GT methanol extract was sub-fractionated into 10 samples using flash chromatography. The toxicity of the fractions on L6 muscle cells, stably expressing GLUTmyc, was evaluated using the MTT assay. The efficacy with which GLUT4 was attached to the L6 PM was evaluated at non-toxic concentrations. Fraction 6 was the most effective, as it stimulated GLUT4 translocation in the absence and presence of insulin, 3.5 and 5.2 times (at 250 μg/mL), respectively. Fraction 1 and 3 showed no significant effects on GLUT4 translocation, while other fractions increased GLUT4 translocation up to 2.0 times. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of silylated fractions revealed 98 distinct compounds. Among those compounds, 25 were considered anti-diabetic and glucose disposal agents. These findings suggest that GT methanol sub-fractions exert an anti-diabetic effect by modulating GLUT4 translocation in L6 muscle cells, and indicate the potential of GT extracts as novel therapeutic agents for T2D.

A review: Pharmacological aspects of metal based 1,2,4-triazole derived Schiff bases

Clinical reports have highlighted the radical increase of antibiotic resistance. As a result, multidrug resistance has emerged as a serious threat to human health. Many organic compounds commonly used as drugs in the past, no longer have pure organic mode of action rather need bio-transformation or more activation. Bulk of research has shown that they need trace amount of metal ions incorporated within the chemistry of bioactive molecules for enhancement of their potentiality to fight aggressively against resistance. The deficiency of some metal ions can also be responsible for many diseases like growth retardation, pernicious anemia and heart diseases in infants. To overcome these problems, there is a need to introduce novel strategies which have new mechanism of action along with significant spectrum of biological activity, enhanced safety and efficacy. Bioinorganic compounds have played imperative role in developing the new strategy in the form of "Metal Based Drugs". In current years there have been momentous rise of interest in the application of metal based Schiff base compounds to treat various diseases which are difficult to be treated with conventional methodologies. The unique properties of metal chelates acting as an intermediate between conventional organic and inorganic compounds provided innovative opportunities in the field of pharmaceutical chemistry. In this review, we have exclusively focused on the search of metal based 1,2,4-triazole derived Schiff base compounds (synthesized, reported and reviewed in the past ten years) that possess various biological activities such as antifungal, antibacterial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, anthelmintic, anticancer, antiproliferative, cytotoxic and DNA-intercalation activity.

Heliotropium indicum L.: From Farm to a Source of Bioactive Compounds with Therapeutic Activity

This study aimed to summarize the available data on the ethnomedicinal and phytopharmacological activities of Heliotropium indicum L. based on database reports. For this purpose, an up-to-date literature search was carried out in the Google Scholar, Scopus, Springer Link, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, ResearchGate, PubMed, Chem Spider, Elsevier, BioMed Central, and patent offices (e.g., USPTO, CIPO, NPI, Google patents, and Espacenet) for the published materials. The findings suggest that the plant contains many important phytochemicals, including pyrrolizidine alkaloids, indicine, echinitine, supinine, heleurine, heliotrine, lasiocarpine, acetyl indicine, indicinine, indicine N-oxide, cynoglossine, europine N-oxide, heleurine N-oxide, heliotridine N-oxide, heliotrine N-oxide, heliotrine, volatile oils, triterpenes, amines, and sterols. Scientific reports revealed that the herb showed antioxidant, analgesic, antimicrobial, anticancer, antituberculosis, antiplasmodial, anticataract, antifertility, wound healing, antiinflammatory, antinociceptive, antihyperglycemic, anthelmintic, diuretic, antitussive, antiglaucoma, antiallergic, and larvicidal activity. In conclusion, in vitro studies with animal models seem to show the potential beneficial effects of H. indicum against a wide variety of disorders and as a source of phytotherapeutic compounds. However, clinical studies are necessary to confirm the effects observed in animal models, determine the toxicity of the therapeutic dose and isolate the truly bioactive components.

Atractylodis Rhizoma: A review of its traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology and quality control

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Atractylodis Rhizoma (AR), mainly includes Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC. (A. lancea) and Atractylodes chinensis (DC.) Koidz. (A. chinensis) is widely used in East Asia as a diuretic and stomachic drug, for the treatment of rheumatic diseases, digestive disorders, night blindness, and influenza as it contains a variety of sesquiterpenoids and other components of medicinal importance.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

A systematic summary on the botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, and quality control of AR was presented to explore the future therapeutic potential and scientific potential of this plant.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A review of the literature was performed by consulting scientific databases including Google Scholar, Web of Science, Baidu Scholar, Springer, PubMed, ScienceDirect, CNKI, etc. Plant taxonomy was confirmed to the database "The Plant List".

RESULTS

Over 200 chemical compounds have been isolated from AR, notably sesquiterpenoids and alkynes. Various pharmacological activities have been demonstrated, especially improving gastrointestinal function and thus allowed to assert most of the traditional uses of AR.

CONCLUSIONS

The researches on AR are extensive, but gaps still remain. The molecular mechanism, structure-activity relationship, potential synergistic and antagonistic effects of these components need to be further elucidated. It is suggested that further studies should be carried out in the aspects of comprehensive evaluation of the quality of medicinal materials, understanding of the "effective forms" and "additive effects" of the pharmacodynamic substances based on the same pharmacophore of TCM, and its long-term toxicity in vivo and clinical efficacy.

Nutritional Properties and In Vitro Antidiabetic Activities of Blue and Yellow Corn Extracts: A Comparative Study

The objective of this research was to designate and identify the profile of fatty acids, sterols, and polyphenol compounds and to demonstrate the antidiabetic activity, in blue corn extracts (BCE) in comparison with the yellow variant of this raw material. All of the maize lines, including the blue corn, were grown in Europe (southwestern part of Poland) and not in the place of origin (South America). In the extracts of the blue corn variety, eight anthocyanin compounds were isolated. The compound found in the largest amount was pelargonidin, followed by cyanidin-3-glucoside and other glycoside derivatives. Unsaturated fatty acids were the main ones found in the lipid fraction of blue and yellow corn, including linoleic acid and oleic acid. Saturated fatty acids, such as stearic and palmitic acid, were present in smaller amounts. The blue corn’s sterol profile was similar to other varieties of this corn, with β-sitosterol and campesterol occurring in the largest amount, alongside smaller amounts of stigmastanol and stigmasterol. The blue corn variety was characterized by a high content of polyphenolic compounds, which show several biological activities, including antidiabetic activity. The strongest in vitro antidiabetic effect was found in the blue corn lines. Among the polyphenolic compounds in both the blue and yellow corn varieties, in the largest amounts, were caffeic acid, procyanidin B2, and gallic acid. Despite the known and proven biological activity of polyphenolic compounds, the fat fraction showed the highest in vitro antidiabetic activity in the BCE studied.

Genus Parkia: Phytochemical, Medicinal Uses, and Pharmacological Properties

The genus Parkia (Fabaceae, Subfamily, Mimosoideae) comprises about 34 species of mostly evergreen trees widely distributed across neotropics, Asia, and Africa. This review aims to provide an overview of the current status of the species from the genus Parkia in terms of its relationship between its phytochemistry and medical uses. Comprehensive information on Parkia species was retrieved from electronic databases, which were Web of Science, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Google Scholar. This review identified nine species from genus Parkia with properties of medicinal use. They are used traditionally to treat several ailments, such as diabetes, diarrhea, wounds, hypertension, cough, chronic piles, conjunctivitis, and measles. The most common species studied are P. biglobosa, P. speciosa, P. javanica, P. bicolor, P. biglandulosa, P. filicoidea, and P. clappertoniana. A considerable number of secondary metabolites, such as terpenoids, phenolic acids, flavonoids (aglycone and glycosides), and numerous volatile compounds have been identified in this genus, which are responsible for their diverse pharmacological activities. Their extracts, pure compounds and seed lectins have been reported for their anticancer, antimicrobial, antihypertensive, antiulcer, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimalarial, hepatoprotective, and antidiarrheal activities. The information gathered in this review might be of help for future studies in terms of the current knowledge on the link between the phytochemical components and medicinal uses. This could facilitate more discoveries on its potentials particularly in the pharmacological characteristics and potential to be developed into modern medicines.

Overexpression of Key Sterol Pathway Enzymes in Two Model Marine Diatoms Alters Sterol Profiles in Phaeodactylum tricornutum

Sterols are a class of triterpenoid molecules with diverse functional roles in eukaryotic cells, including intracellular signaling and regulation of cell membrane fluidity. Diatoms are a dominant eukaryotic phytoplankton group that produce a wide diversity of sterol compounds. The enzymes 3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl CoA reductase (HMGR) and squalene epoxidase (SQE) have been reported to be rate-limiting steps in sterol biosynthesis in other model eukaryotes; however, the extent to which these enzymes regulate triterpenoid production in diatoms is not known. To probe the role of these two metabolic nodes in the regulation of sterol metabolic flux in diatoms, we independently over-expressed two versions of the native HMGR and a conventional, heterologous SQE gene in the diatoms Thalassiosira pseudonana and Phaeodactylum tricornutum. Overexpression of these key enzymes resulted in significant differential accumulation of downstream sterol pathway intermediates in P. tricornutum. HMGR-mVenus overexpression resulted in the accumulation of squalene, cycloartenol, and obtusifoliol, while cycloartenol and obtusifoliol accumulated in response to heterologous NoSQE-mVenus overexpression. In addition, accumulation of the end-point sterol 24-methylenecholesta-5,24(24’)-dien-3β-ol was observed in all P. tricornutum overexpression lines, and campesterol increased three-fold in P. tricornutum lines expressing NoSQE-mVenus. Minor differences in end-point sterol composition were also found in T. pseudonana, but no accumulation of sterol pathway intermediates was observed. Despite the successful manipulation of pathway intermediates and individual sterols in P. tricornutum, total sterol levels did not change significantly in transformed lines, suggesting the existence of tight pathway regulation to maintain total sterol content.

Naphthalenes A and B, two new naphthalene derivatives from the fungus Phellinus igniarius

Two new naphthalene derivatives, named naphthalene A (1) and naphthalene B (2), together with eight known compounds (3-10) were isolated from dichloromethane fraction of Phellinus igniarius. The structures of compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and absolute configurations were established based on electronic circular dichroism data. Compounds 9 and 10 exhibited moderate activity, increasing Glucose transporter 4 (GLUT-4) translocation by 1.62 and 1.87 folds, respectively.

Phytosterols: Nutritional Health Players in the Management of Obesity and Its Related Disorders

Obesity and its related disorders, such as diabetes and cardiovascular risk, represent an emerging global health issue. Even though genetic factors seem to be the primary actors in the development and progression of these diseases, dietary choices also appear to be of crucial importance. A healthy diet combined with physical activity have been shown to ameliorate glycaemic levels and insulin sensitivity, reduce body weight and the risk of chronic diseases, and contribute to an overall improvement in quality of life. Among nutrients, phytosterols have become the focus of growing attention as novel functional foods in the management of metabolic disorders. Phytosterols are natural plant compounds belonging to the triterpene family and are structurally similar to cholesterol. They are known for their cholesterol-lowering effects, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, and the benefits they offer to the immune system. The present review aims to provide an overview of these bioactive compounds and their therapeutic potential in the fields of obesity and metabolic disorders, with special attention given to oxidative stress, inflammatory status, and gut dysbiosis, all common features of the aforementioned diseases.

Sea cucumbers-derived sterol sulfate alleviates insulin resistance and inflammation in high-fat-high-fructose diet-induced obese mice

Sea cucumbers are widely consumed in traditional medicine and food. Sea cucumbers-derived sulfated sterol exhibits a sulfate group at C-3 position, which is different from phytosterol with a hydroxyl group. However, the effect of sterol sulfate on metabolic syndrome remains unknown. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the alleviation of sterol sulfate on high-fat-high-fructose diet (HFFD)-induced insulin resistance and inflammation. After 2 weeks feeding with HFFD, male C57BL/6J mice were continuously fed with HFFD plus 0.4 % (w/w) sterol sulfate or phytosterol for 6 weeks. The OGTT was carried out at 7 weeks. At the end of the experimental period, the changes of glycogen, circulating glucose, insulin, pro-inflammatory cytokine and adiponectin were measured. H&E staining was used to observe the morphological changes in adipose tissue. Furthermore, the underlying molecular mechanisms were investigated. Dietary sterol sulfate was superior to phytosterol in reducing body weight gain, adipocyte hypertrophy, and levels of circulating glucose and insulin, as well as increasing the glycogen content of tissues. Furthermore, sterol sulfate ameliorated insulin resistance mainly due to the inhibition of gluconeogenesis, the promotion of glycogen synthesis and GLUT4 translocation by activating PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Additionally, sterol sulfate effectively attenuated inflammation by increasing serum adiponectin and reducing pro-inflammatory cytokine release. Sterol sulfate exhibited a more significant effect than phytosterol in alleviating HFFD -induced insulin resistance and inflammation, which might be closely related to the sulfate group. The results might provide insights into the prevention and alleviation of metabolic syndrome.

Antidiabetic effects of a lipophilic extract obtained from flowers of Wisteria sinensis by activating Akt/GLUT4 and Akt/GSK3β

Background

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is primarily caused by insulin resistance (IR) in insulin-sensitive tissues, including liver, white adipose tissues (WAT), and skeletal muscles. Discovering nutritious foods with antidiabetic effects is of great significance. Numerous published reports indicated that protein kinase B (Akt) and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) play crucial roles in ameliorating IR and diabetic symptoms.

Objective

In the present study, antidiabetic effects and the potential mechanism of action of WS-PE (a lipophilic extract from edible flowers of Wisteria sinensis) were explored with L6 cells in vitro and in high-fat diet (HFD) + Streptozocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice in vivo.

Design

In vivo, HFD + STZ-induced diabetic mice were used as diabetic models to investigate the potential antidiabetic and antidyslipidemic activities. In vitro, a novel GLUT4 translocation assay system was established to evaluate the potential effects of WS-PE on GLUT4 translocation. Western blot analysis was adopted to investigate the molecular mechanisms of WS-PE both in vivo and in vitro.

Results

vitro, WS-PE increased glucose uptake by stimulating GLUT4 expression and translocation, which were regulated by Akt phosphorylation. In vivo, the WS-PE treatment ameliorated the hyperglycemia, IR, and dyslipidemia and reversed hepatic steatosis and pancreatic damage in diabetic mice. The WS-PE treatment increased GLUT4 expression by Akt activation in WAT and skeletal muscle. Akt activation stimulated GSK3β phosphorylation in liver and skeletal muscles, indicating that WS-PE showed regulatory effects on glycogen synthesis in liver and skeletal muscles.

Conclusion

These in vitro and in vivo results indicated that the WS-PE treatment exerted antidiabetic effects by activating Akt/GLUT4 and Akt/GSK3β.

Cooking Oil Consumption Is Positively Associated with Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in a Chinese Nationwide Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Evidence suggests that the relations between intakes of individual fatty acids and risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) vary. However, associations between intakes of different cooking oils as sources of fatty acids and incident T2D remain largely unknown.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to evaluate relations between intakes of individual cooking oils and incident T2D in a nationwide Chinese cohort.

METHODS

Overall 15,022 Chinese adults aged ≥20 y from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) without self-reported T2D at entry in the 1997, 2000, 2004, 2006, or 2009 rounds were followed up until 2011. Consumption of various cooking oils/fats including lard, peanut oil, soybean oil, canola oil, sesame oil, and refined blended plant oil was assessed using 3-d 24-h records in each survey and the cumulative mean intake was calculated. Multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression models were constructed to estimate the HRs of T2D.

RESULTS

A total of 1014 cases were recorded after a median follow-up of 14 y. The intakes of animal and plant cooking oils/fats were both associated with higher T2D risk. Compared with nonconsumers, multivariable-adjusted HRs and 95% CIs for the highest tertiles were 1.31 (1.03, 1.67) for lard, 1.36 (1.10, 1.66) for peanut oil, 1.14 (0.91, 1.43) for soybean oil, 1.11 (0.87, 1.43) for canola oil, 1.02 (0.79, 1.32) for sesame oil, and 1.42 (1.12, 1.82) for refined blended plant oil. Substituting 1 tablespoon/d (8 g · 2000 kcal-1 · d-1) of soybean oil for the sum of lard, peanut oil, refined blended plant oil, and other plant oils was associated with a 3% (HR: 0.97; 95% CI: 0.95, 0.99) lower risk of T2D.

CONCLUSIONS

Intakes of lard, peanut oil, and refined blended plant oil but not soybean oil, canola oil, and sesame oil are associated with higher T2D risk. Reducing the consumption of cooking oils in general may be protective against T2D among the Chinese population.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03259321.